(a)        Group health plans offered by a sponsoring association may only provide coverage to the following:

(1)        Eligible employees of the employer member as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-51-80(c) and working owners pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-5.

(2)        The spouse or dependent children of any individual identified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.

(b)        In order to obtain coverage for their employees under a group health plan offered by a sponsoring association, employer members must commit to remaining members of the sponsoring association and receiving and paying for benefits under the group health plan for at least one twelve-month policy period. ?(2019-202, s. 1.)